Currently, the district employs one full-time Washington Township police officer as a school resource officer, or SRO, footing the more than $100,000 bill for his salary, to work at Washington Township High School. He handles student issues ranging from fights to drugs, threats and vandalism, as well as arranging educational programs and mediation.

With renewed concerns about gun violence nationwide and a school district budget that’s likely to be constrained by increasing health care costs as well as ongoing contract negotiations with the 800-plus member Washington Township Education Association, the board is wondering if there’s a way to be secure while saving money.

Superintendent Robert Goldschmidt said so far the board has asked the township only to share funding for at least part of the salary, and while in some sense the salary is still being paid from the same pocket — the taxpayers — freeing up the money could be good for the district.

“When it’s carved out of the school district’s budget to the tune of $100,000, that’s money that doesn’t go into the classroom,” Goldschmidt said, clarifying that the matter is still being discussed.

“We’re not looking to decrease school security,” said Board Member Ginny Murphy. “But we have the highest paid [school resource officer] in the county.”

She said Chief of Police Rafael Muniz has indicated that the position doesn’t require the two decades of experience the current SRO has, and that if they can better allocate funds, they might be able to better protect the schools.

But asking the township to take either all or part of the SRO salary back on its books could prove difficult, as the municipal budget is looking tight as well, and council is currently debating the hiring of additional officers to alleviate police staffing issues.

Getting the SRO back on the streets either partially or fully could complicate that issue, said Council President Daniel Morley at Tuesday night’s board meeting, which he attended. Morley added that council has not made any formal decisions regarding it, and only discussed it in conjunction with the overall staffing issues.

Board of Education President Kurt Snyder suggested the board’s business committee should review the situation and present two or three options to the board before moving forward.

Either way, Murphy said, it’s important to make a choice soon.

“I’m afraid this is going to drag on,” she said. “We just need an answer ... we’ve got to make some decisions.”